Medicine Hat Abundant Living Expert – Pastor Philip Robe-From

I recently attended a wonderful evening of music performed by the Grande Prairie Symphony Orchestra. During the the intermission, a nagging question began to form in my mind: Why does an orchestra need a conductor?

I imagined that the members of the orchestra had practiced together, spending much time getting the performance ready for the eager audience. Why would a conductor be necessary if the musicians already knew what to do?

I did some research. It turns out, that many years ago, conductors were not needed. Orchestras were small and everyone could see and hear each other quite easily. As the size of orchestras got larger, it was discovered that a cello player could be 15 metres away from the percussion and they couldn’t see each other.

Seeing each other wasn’t the bigger problem. Sound travels at 343 metres per second. At 15 metres away, it would take the sound of the percussion 1/20 of second to reach the cellist. This sound delay would cause major problems for the goal involving everyone playing simultaneously, with the same rhythm.

A conductor can anticipate what’s coming next and ensure that everyone plays together, even if they can’t see or hear each other at the same time.

What about our relationships with those around us? Are we hearing things differently and are we out of step with friends, family, or spouses? A conductor could really help get your life’s orchestra to play a symphony worth belonging to.

1 Corinthians 1:10 – Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.